PUBLIC NOTICE - - - AVAILABILITY OF PROPOSED FY 2026 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN As set forth in 24 CFR Part 91, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires state agencies which administer certain HUD programs to incorporate their planning and application requirements into one master plan called the Consolidated Plan. In Louisiana, the three state agencies participating in this consolidated planning process and the HUD funded program(s) administered by each agency include the Division of Administration/Office of Community Development (CDBG), the Louisiana Housing Corporation (HOME Investment Partnerships Program, National Housing Trust Fund, and Emergency Solutions Grants Program), and the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program). A consolidated plan was prepared in 2024 which outlined the State's overall housing and community development needs and a strategy for meeting those needs for federal fiscal years 2025-2029 and included a one-year action plan for the distribution of FY 2025 federal funds received under the aforementioned HUD programs. An annual update or action plan for the distribution of funds must be prepared and publicized for each of the subsequent four program years. The proposed FY 2026 Annual Action Plan which identifies the proposed method of distribution of FY 2026 funds under the HUD programs will be available for review beginning May 1, 2026, at https://www.doa.la.gov/doa/ocd-lga/cdbg-and-cdbg-cv/lcdbg-programs/lcdbg-plans-and-reports/2025-2029/ and at the Office of Community Development, Claiborne Building, Suite 3-150, 1201 North Third Street in Baton Rouge. Copies of the document will also be available for review at the Louisiana Housing Corporation at 2415 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge, and at the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, STD/HIV Program at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 2136, in New Orleans. Interested parties are encouraged to view the document on the website above. A limited number of copies of the proposed plan will be available for distribution and may be requested in writing or by telephone from any of the three agencies participating in the consolidated planning process. The following presents a summary of the proposed FY 2026 Annual Action Plan. The State has been allocated $22,611,918 in FY 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The Office of Community Development is proposing to establish the following program areas for the distribution of these funds: (1) Public Facilities – approximately $11.7 million will be allocated for water and wastewater systems, and residential streets; (2) Economic Development - $2 million will be allocated to provide grants to local governments for infrastructure improvements which will facilitate the location of a particular business; 3) Clearance Program - $6 million will be set aside to target the elimination or prevention of slums and blight throughout the state; 4) Make A Difference Program - $2 million will be allocated to provide municipalities the opportunity to complete any eligible CDBG activity that meets a CDBG national objective in an effort to have a measurable impact on their community. In accordance with HUD guidelines, the remainder of the LCDBG funds will be utilized for the State’s cost of providing program administration and technical assistance services. The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), as the administrator of the State's HOME Program, has been allocated $9,509,160.60 in FY 2026 funds. HOME funds are used to provide flexible, below-market-rate loans to projects that create or preserve affordable housing for lower-income households. Eligible activity types include homeownership development, homebuyer assistance, rental development (acquisition and / or rehabilitation and new construction), homeowner rehabilitation and rental assistance. Funds are distributed statewide. The State's federal allocation for the FY 2026 Emergency Solutions Grants Program (ESGP) is $2,640,771. ESG funds may be used for six program activities, each program can determine the amount of funding for the allowable categories based on the needs of the community. The eligible program components are as follows: A. street outreach, B. emergency shelter, C. homelessness prevention, D. rapid re-housing assistance, E. Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and F. administrative activities. Per 24 CFR 576.100(b), the total amount of an applicant's budget for street outreach and essential services cannot exceed 60% of its total requested amount. Within a collaborative application, the 60% limit applies to the entire application and not to each partner within the collaborative application. All applicants are required to set aside a minimum 40% for their awards for either homeless prevention or rapid re-housing activities. The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health (OPH), STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program expects to receive approximately $4,076,670 for FY 2026 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Although some percentages may vary based on the changing needs of persons living with HIV and the availability of complimentary resources in each geographic service area, 85% of the annual State Formula HOPWA award is allocated to rental assistance and homelessness prevention activities. Another 10% is allocated to Supportive Services. OPH delivers services via community-based organizations that provide Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), Permanent Housing Placement Services (PHPS), Short-Term Rent/Mortgage/Utility Assistance (STRMU), and operation of three community residences for low-income persons living with HIV. The allocations to TBRA and STRMU typically make up the majority of those awards. An additional 12% of the annual award is allocated to affordable housing development, including Facility Based Housing Assistance and Resource Identification (RI), while 3% is dedicated LDH to cover all of the Administrative Costs associated with this grant award. Written comments on the proposed annual action plan may be submitted beginning May 1, 2026, and must be received no later than May 30, 2026. Comments may be mailed to the Office of Community Development, Post Office Box 94095, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095, sent via facsimile to 225-342-1947, or emailed to denease.mcgee2@la.gov . 186021-may 1-1t $110.51